Fahlo The Venture Plush - Polar Bear

Each plush comes with a real polar bear to track

Track a real polar bear and give this one a big bear hug! Created in partnership with Polar Bears International, each polar bear plush unlocks an interactive tracking map and supports conservation efforts.

Details

One small plush. One big mission

• 10% of profits donated to Polar Bears International and their work protecting polar bears and the sea ice they depend on. The Venture Plush helps further this mission with every purchase, tracking polar bears in the Arctic.

• Stuffing made from recycled water bottles

• Huggable for all ages

• Size: 12"

How It Works

• Tracked via GPS collar or fur tag
• This animal’s safety guarded with the Fahlo Protection Ping™

Every Fahlo tracking experience includes the Fahlo Protection Ping™. This indicates each animal’s unique path may be live, delayed, or historical based on required safety protocol in accordance with our nonprofit partners.

While the experience of following an animal’s journey remains the same for you, we work behind the scenes with our partners to ensure this experience is presented in a way that keeps the animals safe, one step or splash at a time.

FAQ's

Can you track a polar bear?

• Yes, you can track a polar bear! Historically, this has been done primarily using GPS collars made from flexible, synthetic materials that can withstand Arctic marine conditions. These GPS collars contain a battery and transmitter that sends location data to a satellite that allows researchers to track polar bears, helping them learn about their movements in response to sea ice movement as well as loss caused by climate change. Because polar bears prefer to roam far out on sea ice where it is dangerous for humans to travel, data from GPS collars gives scientists a rare glimpse into the lives of polar bears, including the habitats they use and the vast distances they travel. The collars also feature a release mechanism set to detach the collar before the battery dies. Additionally, the steel nuts and brass bolts used to attach the collar will corrode in saltwater, ensuring the collar falls off even if the release mechanism fails. Once detached, researchers can use GPS to locate and retrieve the collar, extract stored data, and then refurbish and reuse the collar.

Why are polar bears endangered?

• Polar bears are classified as a vulnerable species, with their main threat being the loss of their sea ice habitat due to climate change. As the ice melts, polar bears are forced to travel greater distances to find food, which puts additional stress on their populations. Other significant threats include industrial impacts, pollution, overharvesting, and increased interactions with humans as they search for food. These combined factors have resulted in a decline in polar bear populations, making their conservation a critical concern for scientists and wildlife advocates alike. Our stuffed polar bear is one way to make a positive impact and support the work of Polar Bears International as they continue to make a difference in protecting this amazing species.

Does tracking harm the polar bears?

• Understandably, there are concerns about the impacts of collaring and human interference on wildlife. Polar bear researchers care deeply about the health of their study animals and regularly assess the impacts of different types of research and adjust as needed.

  The most recent study on the long-term impacts of collars on polar bears evaluated the extent to which capture, collaring, and handling may influence polar bear activity, body mass, body condition, reproduction, and survival. Polar bears had a reduction in movements for several days after capture, but this was short-term. There were no long-term effects found on body condition, reproduction, or cub survival. This study showed capture and collaring are not contributing to observed changes in body condition, reproduction or survival seen in the polar bear population.

  However, researchers continue to refine methods, make trackers smaller, and find the least invasive ways to study polar bear populations to help inform the best ways we can protect them.